Self-leveling device



July 5, 1949. J. w. HEARST SELF-LEVELING DEVICE Filed July 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 5, 1949 SELF-LEVELING DEVICE Jack W. Hearst, Palatine, Ill., assignor to Automatic Burner Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application July 4, 1945, Serial No. 603,123

7 Claims.

This invention relates to -a self levelling device and more particularly such device for maintaining oil burners and other apparatus level regardless of whether or not the surface upon which they rest is horizontal. Among the objects of my invention are to provide a novel and improved self levelling device; to provide a self levellin device eliminating the need for counterweights; to so arrange the parts that the device acts as its own stabilizer even under changing conditions regarding horizontal position; to provide a self levellin device that is economical to manufacture, is reliable, durable and efiicient in operation, is pleasing in appearance, and at the same time lends itself to an easier and more effective method of stabilization to provide a novel mounting for oil burners and other devices, such that they will automatically always be in level position; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities, inherently possessed by my invention, as will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section of a self levelling device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 and looking toward the same from the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a modification showing the provision of more than one burner member.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, I have shown in Fig. 1 a stationary support I, a first frame 2 pivotally mounted to the frame I by a pair of aligned trunnions 3 and 4, and a second frame designated generally at 5 and comprising a cross bar carrying member '6 having at its two ends the upstanding angularly positioned arms I and 8 each formed at its upper end with an opening 9 r-otatably mounted upon the trunnions I0 and II fixed in the first frame 2. The axis of rotation about the trunnions Ill and II is at right angles to the axis of rotation about the trunnions 3 and 4. This, as will be recognized, constitutes a gimbal mounting. Fixed to the cross bar 6 at the middle of its length, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is an oil burner member I2, this connection with the cross bar being efiected by bolts or the like I3 passing through the bottom of the burner member and through the cross bar 6. Also fixed to the cross bar 6 and extending laterally therefrom is an arm I4 provided at its inner end with a longitudinal extending slot I 5, through which passes the shank of a bolt I6 so that arm I4 may have a slight longitudinal adjustment with relation to bolt I6, and when in desired adjusted position may be tightened to the cross bar by nut I! and the head I8 of the'bolt.

As will be noted in Fig. 3 the arm I4 is bent upwardly a small amount at I9 and at 20 is bent so as to extend forwardly in a horizontal plane. Fixed upon the outer horizontal portion of bar It is a constant-level-fuel-tank 2|, fuel being admitted to the inside of this tank by a supply pipe 22, this tank being also provided with a control device Z3 50 arranged as to maintain the level of fuel oil in the tank substantially the same as that of a small amount of oil in the bottom of the oil burner member I2. Tank H is connected to the bottom of the oil burner member by a tubing 24 to enable passage of oil from the tank to the burner.

As seen in Fig. 3, the upstanding arms 1 and 8 at the ends of the cross bar 6 are positioned at an acute angle with the vertical, the axis of rotation of these arms upon trunnions I0 and I I being thus positioned a substantial distance to one side of a parallel vertical plane passing through the center of the oil burner member. It is also to be noted that the fuel tank 2|, the arm [4, the cross bar 6 and upstanding angle arms I and 8 are all rigidly attached together and swingably supported on trunnions I0 and II of the first frame. By properly proportionin the parts and providing a proper angle of inclination of the arms I and 8 with the vertical, and by such slight longitudinal adjustment as may be desired in slot I5, the burner member and the constant-levelfuel-tank may be at all times maintained level so that there will always be an even, horizontal level pool of oil in the bottom of the burner member regardless of any tipping that may occur in the supporting member I.

In other words, by arranging the upstanding arms I and 8 at an upwardly and outwardly extending angle, the center of gravity is moved outwardly to such a point that the weight of the burner and associated parts will counterbalance the weight of the fuel tank, arm I4 and associated parts, to maintain said constant level. This novel structure eliminates the necessity of providing additional counterweights and yet provides a constant level of oil in the burner member and in the fuel tank at all times, resulting in the device acting as its own stabilizer even under changing conditions regarding horizontal position of the supporting member I. As will be seen in the drawings, the cross bar 6, supporting the burner member and the lateral and outwardly extending arm I 4, is at a substantial level below the axis of rotation of trunnions l and II and 3 and 4. While the an gle of upstanding arms I and 8 is shown in the drawings as being approximately 30 with a vertical plane it is to be understood that the specific degree of this angle may be made as required by changes in the supported parts such as the weight of the tank 2|, the weight of the burner, the weight of arm M, the weight of cross bar 6, the weight of arms 1 and 8, the weight of tubing 24, etc.

By this structure I am enabled to so position and assemble the parts at the factory that, when the device is once set up in its place of use, it will not require any changes, but will maintain a constant level of oil in the burner and in the tank at all times, without requiring any additional counterweights, or the like. While in Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown for illustrative purposes only, the use of a single burner, I wish it understood that any number of burners greater than one may be used as desired, a proper proportioning and arrangement of the parts being effected at the time of manufacture. As illustrating a plurality of burners, I have shown in Fig. 4 a self levelling device having two burners in which the principle of operation is the same as in that form shown in Figs. 1-3. As will be understood the burners are of generally understood construction, and are provided with the usual fuel pans 25, and upwardly extending perforated cylindrical members. A self levelling device of the present invention is capable of use in various places, including kitchen ranges, heating stove, water heaters, maritime uses, and generally in any device where heat is required.

Iclaim:

1. In a self levelling device: a stationary supporting member; a first frame; a second frame, the supporting member and said frames being connected together with a gimbal mounting; a burner member and a fuel-tank-supporting arm connected to the second frame at a substantially lower level than the axes of the gimbal mounting; the axis of rotation of the second frame being laterally offset a substantial distance from a vertical plane passing through the center of the burner member and parallel therewith, said second frame comprising a cross member to which said burner member and fuel-tank-supporting arm are attached, and a pair of upwardly extending arms each secured at one end to said cross member and at the other end pivotall connected to the first frame, said last mentioned arms each forming an acute angle with said vertical plane and on that side thereof toward the free end of the fuel-tank-supporting arm.

2. A self levelling device for maintaining level an oil burner and a laterally offset constant-level fuel tank, comprising: a stationary supporting member; a first fame; a second frame, the supporting member and said frames being connected together with a gimbal mounting; a burner member and a fuel-tank-supporting arm connected to the second frame at a substantially lower level than the axes of the gimbal mounting; a constant-level-fuel-tank mounted on the outer end ,4 portion of the fuel-tank-supporting arm at a substantial distance laterally away from the vertical center line of the burner member, said second frame including a pair of upwardly extending arms positioned at a substantial angle toward the constant-level-fuel-tank and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the first frame, the angular arms, second frame, burner member and fuel-tank swinging freely as a unit with relation to said first frame.

3. A self levelling device for maintaining level an oil burner and a laterally offset constant-level fuel tank, comprising: a stationary supporting member; a first frame; a second frame, the supporting member and said frames being connected together with a gimbal mounting; a burner member and a fuel-tank-supporting arm connected to the second frame at a substantially lower level than the axes of the gimbal mounting; a constant-level-fuel-tank mounted on the outer end portion of the fuel-tank-supporting arm at a substantial distance laterally away from the vertical center line of the burner member, the axis of rotation of the second frame being offset a substantial distance from the vertical center line of the burner member in a direction toward the fuel tank, said axis of rotation being parallel with the longitudinal center line of said first frame, so that the center of gravity of the second frame, the burner member, supporting arm and fueltank is moved to a point toward the fuel-tank such that the burner and fuel tank will be maintained level at all times.

4. A self levelling device for oil burners and the like, comprising; a first frame and a burnersupporting frame supported in a gimbal mounting; a burner member and a laterally extending arm secured to a lower level of said burner-supporting frame; a fuel tank on said arm at a distance outside of the burner member; said burnersupporting frame having a pair of arms extending upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle toward the fuel-tank, the upper ends of said pair of arms being pivotall connected to the first frame to constitute part of said gimbal mounting, whereby the center of gravity of the burner-supporting frame, the burner member, the laterally extending arm, the fuel-tank and said pair of arms is moved to one side so that the weight of the burner member and second frame will counterbalance the weight of the fuel tank, the laterally extending arm and associated parts and maintain the burner member and fuel tank level at all times without additional counterweights, the axis of rotation of the burner-frame being parallel with the longitudinal center line of said first frame.

5. In a self levelling device, a stationary support, a first frame pivotally mounted in the stationary support for swinging movement about one axis, a second frame pivotally mounted in the first frame for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the first mentioned axis, a burner member mounted on said second frame, an outwardly extending supporting arm fixed to said second frame and adapted to support on in: outer end a constant-level-fuel tank, the portion of the second frame supporting the burner mernber and the outwardly extending supporting ariiz being at a lower level than the axis of rotation of the second frame with the first frame, said second frame also having a pair of carrying arms extending upwardly from the burner-member supporting portion and carrying at their upper ends the pivotal mounting of the second frame with the first frame, the axis of rotation of said last mentioned pivotal mounting being positioned a substantial distance to one side of a vertical plane passing through the center of the burner member at right angles to said outwardly extending supporting arm, and on the side toward the free end of said last mentioned supporting arm.

6. In a self levelling device, a stationary support, a first frame pivotally mounted in the stationary support for swinging movement about one axis, a second frame pivotally mounted in the first frame for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the first mentioned axis, said second frame having a burner carrying bar at a substantially lower level than its pivotal mounting and having a burner member thereon, an outwardly extending supporting arm fixed at one end to said burner carrying bar and adapted at its other end portion to support a constant-level-fuel-tank, said second frame also having a pair of upwardly extending arms at the ends of said burner carrying bar and positioned at a substantial angle toward the fuel-tank end of the outwardly extending supporting arm, the upper ends of said upwardly extending arms forming part of the pivotal mounting between the second frame and the first frame, whereby the angular arms, burn-er carrying bar and burner member, and outwardly extending supporting arm and fuel-tank when mounted thereon will swing freely as a unit with relation to the first frame.

'7. In a self levelling device for maintaining level an oil burner and a laterally ofiset constant-level-fuel-tank, a stationary supporting member, a first frame, a second frame, the supporting member and said frames being connected together with a gimbal mounting, said second frame having a burner-carrying bar at a substantially lower level than its pivotal mounting, an outwardly extending constant-level-fuel-tank supporting arm fixed at one end to said burnercarrying bar and extending laterally therefrom, said second frame also having a pair of upwardly extending arms fixed to said burner-carrying bar and positioned at a substantial angle toward the free end of the constant-level-fuel-tank supporting arm, the upper ends of said upwardly extending arms being pivotally connected to the first frame to form part of said gimbal mounting.

JACK W. HEARST.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,003,738 Harris et al. Sept. 19, 1911 1,319,322 Berglann Oct. 21, 1919 2,088,959 Hurwitz Aug, 3, 1937 2,099,838 Carlson Nov. 23, 1937 

